For those who tend to eat just one bigger meal a day, your body thinks it is starving for about 18 hours a day. It reacts by converting more food into fat to create a surplus source of energy and then slowing your metabolism down to protect that fat reserve. Both of these functions promote weight gain. Spread your calories out over 5–6 small meals a day. It is a proven weight loss tactic. The artificial sweeteners found in most “diet” drinks and foods slow down the body’s metabolism. The net result may be consuming fewer calories ... but you burn off fewer calories too. If you have a sweet tooth and want to watch the calories, consider Stevia, a safe, 100% natural sweeter. Stevia leaf extract has more than 30 times the sweetness of ordinary table sugar. Coca-Cola® has been using it in soda in Japan for years.